Clear Pond.
Clear Pond is a 15-acre pond in the Keene township — small enough to miss on most maps, quiet enough that it stays that way. No official fish stocking records, no established campsite clusters, no trail register at a formal trailhead — this is backcountry in the older sense, where you walk in with a topo and walk out with a story but not necessarily a selfie. The water sits in mixed hardwood and softwood cover typical of the mid-elevation Keene Valley drainage, accessible to those who know where to look but unlikely to appear on a weekend itinerary. If you're here, you probably already know why.
Clear Pond reaches a maximum depth of 45 feet, with a mean depth of 18 feet. Clear Pond has public access. Summits nearby include Schoolhouse Mountain and McCray Mountain.
The water, surveyed.
Before you launch.
- Peak foliage from the water — the best seats in the Park are in a canoe this month.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
5 parking areas
Closest parking lots within range, ranked by walking distance. Accessibility flags come from Google verified-data and NYSDEC records; surface and capacity from NYSDEC and OpenStreetMap. Confirm hours and seasonal closures before you go.
- 01Black Mountain Road ParkingTrailhead2.3 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Poke-O-Moonshne Fire Tower Parking Area4.3 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Poke-O-Moonshine Hiker Parking4.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 04Poke-O-Moonshine Rock Climber Parking4.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 05Fay Mountain Trailhead Parking4.9 miunpavedDirections →
Getting in, staying over.
Camping.
What the lake is doing today.
What rings this water.
The peaks.
The waters.
The trails.
Read before you launch.
Make a weekend of it.
Closest editorial picks for a meal, a scoop, a pint, a bed, and a sight worth your time.
Eat.
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Sip.
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Sweet.
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Drink.
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Stay.
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Suggest an edit →Frequently asked.
- Where is Clear Pond located?Clear Pond is a pond in the Keene region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Clear Pond?Clear Pond has a surface area of approximately 15 acres, a smaller backcountry water.
- How deep is Clear Pond?Clear Pond has a maximum depth of 45 feet, with a mean depth of 18.4 feet.
- Is Clear Pond open to the public?Yes, Clear Pond has public access. See the listing page for current trailhead, parking, and boat-launch details, and check active DEC advisories before visiting.
- Can you camp at Clear Pond?Within roughly seven miles of Clear Pond: 1 designated campsite, 2 lean-tos or shelters. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.